32 teams to an All-time Word Cup Finals

Discussion in 'Soccer History' started by Excape Goat, Nov 16, 2009.

  1. JamesBH11

    JamesBH11 Member+

    Sep 17, 2004
    Interesting comparison between ALL TIME XI of France vs Netherland.

    However, I saw many of you did quickly DISMISS the name of Gullit? Gullit is AM versatile can play wide right, central AM, and also support striker. I am afraid Begkamp won't be able to make the first XI - just like Henry or Cantona for France!

    Netherland could well play a 4 2 3 1 with

    ------------------- Van Basten --------------------

    -- Renssenbrink ------ Cruijff ---------- Gullit ------

    ----------- Hanegen -------- Neeskens ------------

    Against France 4 5 1

    ------------------ Fontaine -----------------------

    -------------------- Zidane -----------------------
    --------- Tigana ------------- Deschamps---------
  2. braine

    braine Member

    Feb 5, 2006
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    Thanks for summing up the handful of strikers better than Bryan Roy ;)
    Piet Keizer was a terrific left winger from Ajax , but what I've heared underperform with the NT...
    Abe Lenstra was just as Faas Wilkes a great striker in the fifties.
  3. andykeikei

    andykeikei New Member

    Aug 21, 2008
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    How about them Uruguay?


    -----Nasazzi-------Santamaria------Montero (?)




    I am not sure about the fullback and the left wing position. This formation is a little bit attacking, but since most of them were from pre-50 era, I would say this formation suit them most.
  4. dor02

    dor02 Member

    Aug 9, 2004
    UC Sampdoria
    Nat'l Team:
    That explains it. He wasn't bad at USA 94 and he did well at Foggia but as pointed out by other posters, he wasn't as good as other forwards.

    Even though Petrone apparently had a bigger name, Scarone did more at major tornaments. Cea is a must ahead of Recoba. Recoba was too inconsistent. Montero wouldn't adapt in the LB position.

    Here's a thread on a Uruguay XI from a few years ago:


    My team wasn't balanced though.
  5. feta redded

    feta redded Red Card

    Dec 1, 2009
    32 teams to an All-time World Cup finals.
    I don't think it is a worthy topic to be discussed.
    All I know is that France's prime time has passed.
    Germany is always a great team in World Cups.
  6. andykeikei

    andykeikei New Member

    Aug 21, 2008
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    I hesitated to put Cea ahead of Recoba because I couldn't find enough information about him. Was he like a goalscoring forward or a creating forward? He was less well known compared to the other greats like J. Andrade, Nasazzi, Scarone...

    In WM fullbacks don't come forward anyway, so Montero may be able to play at that position, although he would probably struggle against those pacy wingers.

    How about Oscar Miguez at center forward? I know Scarone was a better player, but was he a better striker?

    PS. Jose Piendibene was a Penarol legend in the beginning of 1900s, one of the best striker/inside forward they ever had.
  7. PDG1978

    PDG1978 Member+

    Mar 8, 2009
    Nottingham Forest FC
    As an aside to the Dutch/French comparison:
    I think I most probably would at least include Wilkes rather than Roy on standby, and would indeed consider omiting Huntelaar from the main squad for him, or even Rep or van Nistelrooy. In terms of the comparison between Wilkes and Piantoni I have seen evidence of some good skills and goals from both (Wilkes via Youtube and Piantoni via ESPN Classic) - who do people think was the better player?

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